Packing retainer for journal boxes



May 3, 1955 J HERR 2,707,660

PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed March 20, 1953 as A 4 IN V EN TOR.

Jbhn D. Herr United States Patent PACKING RETAINER Fo JOURNAL BOXES John D. Hem-Minerva, Ohio Application March 20, 1953, Serial No.34s,67s Y 7 Claims. or. sos sst The invention relatesto retainers for packing or waste in journal boxes of railway cars, and more particularly to .a simple, inexpensive, efiicient retainer constructed so that it may be easily inserted into a journal box to retain the packing therein.

An object of theinvention is to provide a packing a retainer formed of two separable parts comprising a main body portion and a front member, the main bodyportion being insertable into the journal box beforethe packing is placed therein and the detachable front member being adapted to be placed in the journal box and attached to A still further object is the provision of such a packing retainer inwhich the split, spring hoops are pivotally mounted upon the horizontal side members ofthe retainer to facilitate the insertion of the packing retainer into the journal box and the attachment thereof to the journal. V

Another object is to provide a packing retainer which will prevent lateral movement of the packing and prevent it from working out from under the journal.

Still another object is to provide a packing retainer of the type referred to which is made of non-abrasive material, so as not to mar or damage the journal by contact therewith, this eliminating ,cold cuts upon the journal.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent mm the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved packing retainer in the manner hereinafter described in detail, and illustrated ,in the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. l is an exploded, perspective view of a packing retainer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical, longitudinal, sectionalview through a conventional type of journal box, showing the improved packing retainer located therein;

Fig. 3 a transverse, vertical, sectional view through the journal box and retainer, taken as on' the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and, Y

Fig. 4- a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional view through the journal box with the improved packing retainer positioned therein. c

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts'throughot' t, .a conventional type 'of journal box for railway cars is indicated generally at 10, the portion'of thejournal located within the box being shown at 11 and the usual cover 12 being provided for closing the journal box.

1n the top of the journal box is located the usual bearice ing or brass 13, held in contact with the upper side of the journal by the conventional wedge 14, interposed between the top of the journal box and the bearing 13, as in usual and well known practice in journal boxes of this general type.

The usual opening 15 is provided in the rear of inner side of the journal box, to receive the journal, and this opening is adapted tobe normally closed by a conventional oil seal 16 having a circular opening 17 therein for engaging the enlarged cylindrical portion 18 of the journal. V

The packing retainer to which the invention pertains is shown in detail in Fig. 1 and comprises the main body portion indicated generally at 19 and the detachable front member 20, the two parts being shown detached in Fig. 1.

The main body portion 19 of the retainer comprises a spaced pair of longitudinal, horizontal members 21 held in spaced relation by means of the split, spring hoops 22, which are located between, and connected to, opposite end portions of the horizontal members 21.

For the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the packing retainer into the journal box and mounting it upon the journal, as will be later explained, the split, spring hoops 22 are pivotally connected, at diametrically opposite points to the horizontal members 21. I

In order to pivotally connect the split, spring hoops to the horizontal members, angular brackets 23 may be welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the upper sides or" the horizontal members 21, and the hoops 22 are pivotally connected to these brackets, as by rivets 24 or the like, whereby the hoops 22 may be moved relative to the horizontal members 21, from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. l. I

I The detachable front member is of arcuate shape and preferably tapered toward its ends as shown at 25. The upper ends of the front member 20 arebent rear-. wardly as at26 and terminate in the upwardly disposed ears 27, notched on their outer sides as at 28.

The front or outer ends of the horizontal members 21 are provided with apertures 29, adapted to receive the notched cars 27 of the front member, in order to attach the same to the main body member of the packing retainer.

c If desired, an angular bracket 30 may be attached to the front or outer side of the front member 20 for engaging around the collar 31 of the journal, in order to aid in preventing the packing retainer from moving horizontally in either direction relative to the journal.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the split, spring hoops 22 are somewhat greater-than semi-circular form and the upper ends. thereof are preferably bent outward. as at 32.

-In the operation of the improved packing retainer, for properly retaining waste or packing in the journal box,

the retainer is first inserted into the journal box and mounted upon the journal.

For this purpose, the split, spring hoops 22 are pivotally moved to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1, so that the body portion of the packing retainer may be inserted through the door opening 33 of the journal box .and beneath the journal.

The split hoops may then be moved back to thefull line position, as shown in Fig. 1, and pushed upward, so as to engage the journal as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Being of greater than semi-circular form these split hoops will fit around the journal, extending above the center thereof so as to hold the retainer upon the journal.

Packing or waste, as indicated at 34, is then inserted into the journal box, below the journal and beneath'the horizontal members 21 of the packing retainer, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When a sufficient amount'of packing has been placed in the journal box to fill this space, the arcuate front member 20 may then be placed Patented May 3, 1955.

in the journal box, just back of the collar 31 of the journal. the notched cars 27 thereof being engaged in the openings 29 of the horizontal members 21 so as to assemble the two parts of the packing retainer as a unit.

The angular bracket 30 may engage around the underside of the collar 31 of the journal, holding the packing retainer against horizontal movement relative to the journal. The out-turned, upper ends 32 of the split spring hoops 22 are positioned adjacent to the bearing 13, so that any considerable turning movement of the packing retainer upon the journal will be prevented by contact of one end or the other of the spring hoops. with the bearing 13.

The improved packing retainer thus holds the waste packing in proper position around the underside of the journal, leaving the open space 35 in the front portion of the journal box to serve as a well for excess lubricant, the level of which is indicated at 35.

i This lubricant is soaked up by the waste, and by capillary attraction it is drawn up into the upper portion of the waste and deposited upon the rotating journal 11, keeping the journal and bearing lubricated at all times.

The several parts of the packing retainer may be formed of aluminum, bronze, brass or other soft metal, or of suitable plastic or other non-abrasive material, which will not scratch or cut the journal by contact therewith.

From the above it will be apparent that the. improved packing retainer is not anchored at any point to the journal box, but is free to move with the journal, and at the same time will prevent the top of the packing or waste from working up around the top of the journal and lodging under the bearing.

Furthermore, it will be seen that the improved packing retainer will prevent lateral movement of the packing and. prevent the packing from working out from under the journal. The horizontal members 21 will prevent vertical displacement of the packing, while the front member 20 will prevent horizontal displacement thereof.

By detaching the front member 2t) from the main body portion of the retainer, the packing can be set up and serviced when necessary.

It will also be evident that with this construction easy removal and consequent loss of the retainer by theft or carelessness on the part of workmen during servicing operations will be prevented.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details disclosed.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construc tions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an arcuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displace ment, and a spaced pair of split spring hoops attached to opposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal and extend ing upwardly around each side of the journal for supporting the packing retainer on the journal, the arcuate front sit) member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

2. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an arcuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement, and a spaced pair of split spring hoops attached to opposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal for supporting the packing retainer on the journal and extending above the center of the journal, the arcuate front member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal. displacement of the packing.

3. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an arcuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement, and a spaced pair of split spring hoops pivotally attached to opposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal and extending upwardly around each side of the journal for supporting the packing retainer on the journal, the arcuate front member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

4. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an areuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement, and a spaced pair of split spring hoops pivotally attached to opposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal and extending above the center of the journal for supporting the packing retainer on the journal, the arcuate front member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

5. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an arcuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement, and a spaced pair of split spring hoops at tached toopposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal and extending above the center of the journal for supporting the packing retainer on the journal and having out-turned upper ends terminating adjacent to the bearing for preventing rotation of the packing retainer around the journal, the arcuate front member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

6. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an arcuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement, and a spaced pair of split spring hoops pivotally attached to opposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal and extending above the center of the journal for supporting the packing retainer upon the journal and having out-turned upper endsterminating adjacent to the bearing for preventing rotation of the packing retainer around the journal, the arcuate front member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

7. In combination a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a packing retainer comprising a main body member and an arcuate front member with cooperating means for connection to each other, the main body member comprising a spaced parallel pair of horizontal members located in contact with opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement, and a spaced pair of split, spring hoops attached to opposite end portions of the horizontal members and engaging around the underside of the journal, the arcuate front member being located at the outer end of the journal for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing, said cooperating means for connection of the arcuate front member to the main body member comprising openings in the outer ends of the horizontal members and notched ears upon the upper ends of the arcuate front member for engagement in said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

